ST. LOUIS – Sometimes it is best not to try to explain the unexplainable.

The Ducks managed to play another horrid first period, get nothing from their top line, fall behind by two goals, let two third-period leads disappear and somehow walk away with a 6-5 shootout victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.

Nick Bonino ended a wild night by scoring the decisive goal in the sixth round, allowing the Ducks (8-2-1) to pocket the two points and move on to the next stop on their six-game trip.

"Huge," Ducks winger Bobby Ryan said. "To drop two and then go into Chicago and Detroit and Nashville, three ugly buildings to go play hockey in. We needed these two points. They were essential for us to start building to this road trip."

The Ducks thought they let two points get away in a ragged performance Friday in Dallas. Another bad first 20 minutes against the Blues left them with a 3-1 deficit.

Teemu Selanne, Andrew Cogliano and Bobby Ryan scored in succession during a 101-second span of the second period, with Ryan getting his second of the night for a 4-3 lead. Selanne and Ryan each had four points.

Saku Koivu gave them a 5-4 lead with 6:19 left, but Chris Stewart's power-play score against Ducks goalie Viktor Fasth with 4:34 left forced overtime.

The Blues thought they had the game won on Ian Cole's apparent goal in overtime but referee Greg Kimmerly immediately waved it off, determining that Patrik Berglund had made incidental contact with Fasth.

Kimmerly's call riled up the 18,835 in attendance at Scottrade Center and the Ducks again gained new life. Fasth and Blues goalie Brian Elliott each had shaky outings and both teams scored three times in the first five rounds of the shootout.

But Berglund missed wide on his try and Bonino changed speeds in slipping the puck between Elliott's pads.

"I made him move side to side," Bonino said. "Saw if he opened up and slid it in when he did. Just getting it in that hole. He cheated too fast and it hits his pads. You kind of had to time it right and sneak it in."

Ryan Reaves of the St. Louis Blues and Matt Beleskeyof the Anaheim Ducks fight for control of the puck at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. DILIP VISHWANAT, GETTY IMAGES
Andy McDonald #10 of the St. Louis Blues and Emerson Etem #65 of the Anaheim Ducks battle of control of the puck at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. DILIP VISHWANAT, GETTY IMAGES
Viktor Fasth #30 of the Anaheim Ducks makes a save against the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. DILIP VISHWANAT, GETTY IMAGES
Anaheim Ducks' Bobby Ryan, left, celebrates after scoring as Teemu Selanne, of Finland, watches during the first period against the St. Louis Blues, in St. Louis. JEFF ROBERSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
St. Louis Blues' David Perron tries to reach a loose puck before sliding into Anaheim Ducks goalie Viktor Fasth, of Sweden, while Ducks' Sheldon Souray watches during the second period in St. Louis. JEFF ROBERSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anaheim Ducks' Bobby Ryan prepares to score past St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott during the second period in St. Louis. JEFF ROBERSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anaheim Ducks' Matt Beleskey collides along the boards with St. Louis Blues' Alexander Steen during the second period in St. Louis. JEFF ROBERSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues misses a penalty shot against Viktor Fasth of the Anaheim Ducks at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. DILIP VISHWANAT, GETTY IMAGES
Andrew Cogliano #7 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. DILIP VISHWANAT, GETTY IMAGES
Teemu Selanne #8 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues in St. Louis. DILIP VISHWANAT, GETTY IMAGES
Viktor Fasth of the Anaheim Ducks makes a save against the St. Louis Blues in St. Louis. DILIP VISHWANAT, GETTY IMAGES
St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott slips on his back after giving up the winning goal to Anaheim Ducks' Nick Bonino in the shootout Saturday in St. Louis. The Ducks won 6-5. JEFF ROBERSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anaheim Ducks center Saku Koivu is tripped up after scoring past St. Louis Blues goaltender Brian Elliott during the shootout Saturday in St. Louis. The Ducks won 6-5. CHRIS LEE, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
St. Louis Blues center Patrik Berglund, left, collides with Anaheim Ducks goaltender Viktor Fasth during overtime Saturday in St. Louis. The Ducks won 6-5 in a shootout. CHRIS LEE, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

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